The Arthur & Phyllis Kaplan Orchid Conservatory
KOC is open for on-your-own visits to the display house, with no prior registration required. Private tours are not available at this time.
- Wear mask indoors while inside the display house
- Open only between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Monday through Friday)
- Casual visits to the tropical display house are open to the public *no reservation necessary*
- No guided tours available
- Group visits with more than 6 individuals cannot be accommodated at this time
Visit the largest public orchid collection in Tidewater, Virginia.
Built in 2008, the Arthur & Phyllis Kaplan Orchid Conservatory (KOC) primarily houses an orchid collection donated by the late Norfolk physician Dr. Arthur Kaplan and his wife, Phyllis Kaplan. The facility now houses over 1,500 individual orchid plants and a diverse collection of tropical plants.
"I especially love the hybrid varieties with all of the stunning color and unique detail... We are thrilled to have a special partnership with ODU and the Tidewater Orchid Society."
We welcome guests! Come explore the Conservatory.
Come explore exotic orchids in the heart of Norfolk, at Old Dominion University. At the Arthur and Phyllis Kaplan Orchid Conservatory you will be captivated by the beauty of these flowers and you can learn more about them upon your visit. These invigorating flowers can put you in a peaceful mood or even invigorate you. We invite you to see the largest collection of orchid specimens in the Tidewater Region.
+1,500
Orchids
Five
Greenhouses
30-ft high
Display Conservatory
Our Collections
The KOC collection holds a wide array of orchid species and hybrids representing popular genera such as Cattleya, Dendrobium, Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis. Beyond this, the collection delves deeply into lesser-known species, offering a comprehensive and fascinating glimpse into one of the largest flowering plant families on Earth, with an ever-changing kaleidoscope of color, shape and scent.
In addition to the orchids, bold tropical foliage plants are combined with flowering woody and herbaceous specimens to create an exotic jungle habitat that showcases the incredible diversity of plants. Every visit to the KOC offers new and exciting plants to see in bloom.
Mission
The KOC is home to the Kaplan Orchid Collection and a diverse collection of other tropical plants. This facility offers educational opportunities for students, outreach to the public, and provides support for research and training in botany.
Opportunities are available for ODU students through summer internships, volunteer positions, and research partnerships with faculty in the College of Sciences. Public outreach is provided through tours of the facility for small groups and presentations to local gardening and orchid groups both on and offsite.
Vision
The KOC will maintain a living collection of orchids and other plants of horticultural and ecological significance and serve the ODU and local communities by promoting understanding of diversity, culture, and conservation of orchid species in natural habitats.
